PRESS RELEASE

Year 1 and 2 pupils at Firle Church of England Primary School have run a successful letter writing campaign to stop Britain’s leading school milk supplier ‘Cool Milk’ from supplying straws with their school milk. Cool Milk now provides the milk in large containers, for use with cups.The company is prepared to make the same arrangement for any other school that requests it.

‘The fish in the sea don’t deserve this.Have you heard the story of the turtle in the ocean, then it got a straw in its nose?Imagine if that was you,’ wrote Cressidaaged 6

‘Please send our milk in a big carton so that we can use cups,’ wrote Amber, 6.

‘Just don’t do it!’ wrote Ida, 5.

Cool Milk responded to the children’s request and promised to stop including the single use straws, with immediate effect.Chris Hogg, Deputy Managing Director of Cool Milk said:

We’re delighted to be able to support Firle Primary School’s campaign. We know that all schools have their own ways of doing things and their own values and priorities, so what works for one school may not work for another – but we are very happy to discuss any school’s individual requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Firle C of E Primary is calling on other schools to join their campaign.

‘We want to launch a ‘No Straw January’, reducing the use of straws in our school packed lunches too. What better New Year’s Resolution, to work together with Cool Milk and local children, so that all East Sussex schools make a significant difference to plastic waste,’ said Emma Ricca, the teacher who sent the children’s letters to the company.

The campaign is part of Firle C of E Primary’s ‘This is Me!’ project, to promote the school’s ethos of ‘achieve, believe and celebrate.’

‘We are a small village primary, but our children are passionate and effective!This enormous company immediately took their concerns on board.Even the littlest voices can be heard if they shout loud enough,’ said Vicki Brown, Head of School.